Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-22
OBITUARY..
CALPHuRNIA CHASE BENNETT.


seed takes root in soil far beyond the
limits of its native field, so the virtue,
courage, and unselfish affection which
have been the inspiring and developing
force of one soul, propagate themselves
IN others in infinite succession.
How often in the last days Of the dear
friend who has left us, was this truth
axemplifed in the expressions Of those
whose sympathy and love followed her
to the very gates of the larger life.
Some testified to her healing ministry
of comfort in personal sorrow; others to
the inspiration of her word, the uplift-
ing power of her prayers, in the public
congregation; others still, to the wise
and helpful counsel which attuned their
souls to higher issues, or turned the
whole course of life into purer channels.
1t is then only on the personal plane
of loss and loneliness, that we can say of
her, "She is goner' Though her visi-
ble relation to earth has ceased, she has
attained not only the heavenly immor-
tality but she
olives again
In minds made better by her presence"
Calphurnia Chase was the youngest
child of Revolutionary soldier, inherit
ing, perhaps, the courage and fidelity
which marked the heroes Of those early
times. In the atmosphere of devoted
ly Christian houshold, her young soul
turned to God as flower to the sun.
She seems to have been always Christ
ian, although at the age Of thirteen
years, she made more mature and
public conservation of her life.
On June 18th, 1888, she was united in
marriage to Rev. P. S. Bennett, then
just entering the itinerant ministry of
the M. E. Church. In 1849, after a con-
nection of eleven years with the Black
River Conference of New York, Mr..
Bennett was transferred to the Wiscon-
sin Conference. In 1860, he was APP
pointed to the pastorate of the church
in this city.
: Mrs Bennett died after an exhaust
ing illness Of nearly ten weeks. Aug
9th 1887, aged 70 years 6 months and
21 days. Her death occurred at the
home in this city, of her only surviving
child, Mrs. L. A. Briggs,-an elder
daughter and son having previously
deceased
The record thus compressed into a
few brief lines, is to her real life only as
the bare frame work to the finished
temple, while the beautiful and sym
metrical outlines stand complete in the
minds of all who knew her
Her character exhibited rare COM
bination of strength and sweetness
The calm gentleness which so eminently
characterized her, was not the quiet of
passivity, but the controlled force of an
intense nature voluntarily subjected to
the highest motives. Her religious ex-
perience. Seldom strongly emotional,
was commensurate with the depth of
her convictions and the fneness of her
spiritual perceptions. No one who
heard her pray, could doubt the init
macy of her communion with the
Divine spirit toward which she aspired.
1t was impossible for such a nature
not to express itself in deeds, and we
find her, accordingly, through the near
ly rounded half-century of her husbands
pastoral work, his most untiring and
successful co-laborer.
Her more public church work, her
identification with numerous charitable
enterprises, her loving zeal in the tenn
perance reform, her long and efficient
connection with the Women's Foreign
Missionary Society, all are to well
understood to require comment, but
only when the records of human hearts
shall be unsealed, will it be known
what she has been in the character of
individual helper, counselor and friend
Hers was the true tact which is "soul
touch," enabling her to adapt herself
with rare helpfuiness to personal needs.
But the life whose outward manifes-
tations were SO numerous and beautiful,
had, after all, its true source and centre
in the home which, for so many years,
was warmed and pervaded by her
presence. Many were the students of
Lawrence University, who enjoyed in
that home, years of a guardianship
which could scarcely have been more
tender if constrained by ties of blood.
Mrs. Benefits last church work was
to prepare and conduct a Children's S
Day concert on June 18th, at her home
IN Depere, and her last evening before
leaving on her visit to her daughter in
this city, was spent in a prayer-meeting
which she especially enjoyed.
The illness with which she was so
unexpectedly prostrated, was attended
with great weakness and suffering.
which she bore with heroic fortitude
and an exquisite carefulness of the
feelings of those who so devotedlv
ministered to her.
The following extracts from private